Nathaniel James Jackson (July 28, 1818 – April 21, 1892) was an American machinist and soldier. He served as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War, in which he was wounded three times. After the war Jackson operated a mine.
Nathaniel J. Jackson was born in the coastal town of Newburyport located in Essex County, Massachusetts. When he was young he was taught "the machinist's trade" and by 1861 he was superintendent of the Hill mill in Lewiston, Maine. Jackson also was active in the MaineState Militia, and would command some of those militiamen early in the American Civil War during his first two commands.[1]
Civil War service
In 1861 Jackson chose to follow the Union cause. He was appointed commander of the 1st Maine InfantryRegiment on May 3, with the rank of colonel. The 1st Maine did not participate in the opening campaigns of the Civil War, and the 90-day regiment as well as Jackson were mustered out of the volunteer service in early August.[2]
Jackson re-entered the Union Army on September 3, 1861, as colonel of the 5th Maine Infantry. This regiment enlisted for 3 years service, and Jackson's appointment to command it was not popular. His assignment was announced on September 9, "which led to a near mutiny in the regiment. Several officers resigned and General Henry W. Slocum had to act swiftly to prevent further mutinous acts by the members of the 5th Maine."[3] Jackson and the 5th then participated in the 1862 Peninsula Campaign. He fought during the Battle of Gaines' Mill on June 27, where Jackson was wounded in his right elbow.[4] His regiment lost 10 killed, 69 wounded, and another 16 men missing in the battle.[5]
Upon recovering, Jackson participated in the 1862 Maryland Campaign. He fought at the Battle of Crampton's Gap on September 14, and was present Battle of Antietam three days later.[6] On September 19 Jackson was wounded in his knee in fighting again at Crampton's Gap.[4] On September 23 at his camp near Williamsport, Maryland, Jackson submitted his official report concerning the battle on September 14, saying:[5]
About 3.30 o'clock p.m... we received orders to move forward. We were formed in the first line of battle... our position being upon the left. We immediately moved forward in line to assault the enemy's lines... Arriving within about 500 yards, we became engaged with the enemy's infantry. Our line rested behind a rail fence, which position we maintained for upward of an hour, when our ammunition became completely exhausted. We then fell back a short distance... then received orders to fix bayonets and charge upon the enemy, which we did at double-quick. We remained upon the battle-field during the night. Both officers and men behaved in a noble manner. Our loss was 4 killed and 28 wounded.[5]
Jackson after his 1862 promotion to brigadier general
When Jackson was fit enough for light duty, he was given command of the Draft Depot in New York Harbor located on Rikers Island, and then on Hart's Island, posts he held for over a year.[6] On November 11, 1864, Jackson was ordered to the Western Theater and given temporary command of a division of XX Corps in the Army of Georgia. He led it during Sherman's March to the Sea in November and December 1864, in which Jackson was wounded when he was shot just above his right ankle. In 1865 he continued to lead his division in the Carolinas Campaign until April 2, fighting at the Battle of Bentonville. Jackson was brevetted to the rank of major general in the Union Army on March 15, due to his conduct at Battle of Gaines' Mill nearly three years prior.[4]
Postbellum
Jackson was mustered out of the volunteer service on August 24, 1865, and returned to civilian life. By 1870 he had left Lewiston, Maine, and also worked as a coal mine operator after the war. Jackson died in the spring of 1892 in Jamestown, New York, at the home of one of his sons. His body was returned to Massachusetts and buried there in Newburyport. It was noted that neither of the local newspapers in Jamestown or Buffalo, the nearest major city, reported on Jackson's death.[7]
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Nathaniel James Jackson July 28 1818 April 21 1892 was an American machinist and soldier He served as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War in which he was wounded three times After the war Jackson operated a mine Nathaniel James JacksonNathaniel James JacksonBorn 1818 07 28 July 28 1818Newburyport MassachusettsDiedApril 21 1892 1892 04 21 aged 73 Jamestown New YorkPlace of burialOak Hill Cemetery Newburyport MassachusettsAllegianceUnited States of AmericaUnionService wbr branchUnited States ArmyUnion ArmyYears of service1861 1865RankBrigadier General Brevet Major GeneralCommands held1st Maine Infantry Regiment5th Maine Infantry Regiment1st Division XX CorpsBattles warsAmerican Civil War Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Civil War service 3 Postbellum 4 See also 5 References 6 Notes 7 External linksEarly life and career EditNathaniel J Jackson was born in the coastal town of Newburyport located in Essex County Massachusetts When he was young he was taught the machinist s trade and by 1861 he was superintendent of the Hill mill in Lewiston Maine Jackson also was active in the Maine State Militia and would command some of those militiamen early in the American Civil War during his first two commands 1 Civil War service EditIn 1861 Jackson chose to follow the Union cause He was appointed commander of the 1st Maine Infantry Regiment on May 3 with the rank of colonel The 1st Maine did not participate in the opening campaigns of the Civil War and the 90 day regiment as well as Jackson were mustered out of the volunteer service in early August 2 Jackson re entered the Union Army on September 3 1861 as colonel of the 5th Maine Infantry This regiment enlisted for 3 years service and Jackson s appointment to command it was not popular His assignment was announced on September 9 which led to a near mutiny in the regiment Several officers resigned and General Henry W Slocum had to act swiftly to prevent further mutinous acts by the members of the 5th Maine 3 Jackson and the 5th then participated in the 1862 Peninsula Campaign He fought during the Battle of Gaines Mill on June 27 where Jackson was wounded in his right elbow 4 His regiment lost 10 killed 69 wounded and another 16 men missing in the battle 5 Upon recovering Jackson participated in the 1862 Maryland Campaign He fought at the Battle of Crampton s Gap on September 14 and was present Battle of Antietam three days later 6 On September 19 Jackson was wounded in his knee in fighting again at Crampton s Gap 4 On September 23 at his camp near Williamsport Maryland Jackson submitted his official report concerning the battle on September 14 saying 5 About 3 30 o clock p m we received orders to move forward We were formed in the first line of battle our position being upon the left We immediately moved forward in line to assault the enemy s lines Arriving within about 500 yards we became engaged with the enemy s infantry Our line rested behind a rail fence which position we maintained for upward of an hour when our ammunition became completely exhausted We then fell back a short distance then received orders to fix bayonets and charge upon the enemy which we did at double quick We remained upon the battle field during the night Both officers and men behaved in a noble manner Our loss was 4 killed and 28 wounded 5 Jackson after his 1862 promotion to brigadier general Jackson was promoted to brigadier general on September 24 1862 and given brigade command in the XII Corps of the Army of the Potomac that October 4 His brigade and the XII Corps was stationed at Harper s Ferry during the Battle of Fredericksburg in December 6 Jackson was seriously wounded on April 17 1863 in Spotsylvania County Virginia when his horse slipped and Jackson fractured his right thigh 4 The injury prevented him from participating in the Battle of Chancellorsville that May and he was out of action until the fall 6 When Jackson was fit enough for light duty he was given command of the Draft Depot in New York Harbor located on Rikers Island and then on Hart s Island posts he held for over a year 6 On November 11 1864 Jackson was ordered to the Western Theater and given temporary command of a division of XX Corps in the Army of Georgia He led it during Sherman s March to the Sea in November and December 1864 in which Jackson was wounded when he was shot just above his right ankle In 1865 he continued to lead his division in the Carolinas Campaign until April 2 fighting at the Battle of Bentonville Jackson was brevetted to the rank of major general in the Union Army on March 15 due to his conduct at Battle of Gaines Mill nearly three years prior 4 Postbellum EditJackson was mustered out of the volunteer service on August 24 1865 and returned to civilian life By 1870 he had left Lewiston Maine and also worked as a coal mine operator after the war Jackson died in the spring of 1892 in Jamestown New York at the home of one of his sons His body was returned to Massachusetts and buried there in Newburyport It was noted that neither of the local newspapers in Jamestown or Buffalo the nearest major city reported on Jackson s death 7 See also Edit American Civil War portalList of American Civil War generals Union References EditprintEdwards Clark S Papers 1861 1903 Pearce Civil War Collection Navarro College in Corsicana Texas Eicher John H and Eicher David J Civil War High Commands Stanford University Press 2001 ISBN 0 8047 3641 3 Warner Ezra J Generals in Blue The Lives of the Union Commanders Louisiana State University Press 1964 ISBN 0 8071 0822 7 onlinecivilwarhome com Battle of Antietam Union order of battle aotw org Military biography of Jackson aotw org Jackson s report about the Battle of Crampton s Gap nchistoricsites org Battle of Bentonville Union order of battle Notes Edit Warner p 248 Warner p 248 Eicher p 316 1st Maine mustered out on August 3 1861 and Jackson two days later Military biography of Jackson aotw org Retrieved 2008 12 09 a b c d e Eicher p 316 a b c Jackson s report about the Battle of Crampton s Gap aotw org Retrieved 2008 12 09 a b c d Warner p 249 Warner p 249 Eicher p 316 Postbellum not easily reconstructed Historian Ezra Warner states His postwar career is obscure External links EditNathaniel James Jackson at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nathaniel J Jackson amp oldid 1068668772, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
